Today is Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday of Advent. Today we light the pink, or rose, candle on the Advent wreath, and the clergy may wear rose colored vestments. It is called Gaudete Sunday because of the opening antiphon of the Introit Gaudete in Domino semper (Rejoice in the Lord always). The opening words of the entrance antiphon from Philippians 4 are these, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.”
Perhaps you've heard the expression "rose colored glasses." I remember back in the early 1980's when I was the morning DJ at a country music station, country singer John Conlee had a hit song called Rose Colored Glasses. It refers to glasses that block out the bad and make everything look rosy, even though in reality they aren't so rosy.
As Catholics, we don't need rose colored glasses. We must be a people of rejoicing because we know that our future is very rosy. Now, getting there will require some hardships and suffering, but in the end, everything will be coming up roses!
Father, help us to keep our eyes fixed on our rosy future: eternal life with you. Amen.
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